Pipe organ relay



Nov. 18, 1958 s. G. BOWMAN PIPE ORGAN RELAY Filed May 28, 1954 INVENTOR. Samuel G Bowman Sta e Pm PIPE ORGAN RELAY Borough, Pa.

Application May 28, 1954, Serial No. 433,148

4 Claims. 01. 200-104 My invention relates to pipe organs which are electrically controlled,and the invention consists in certain new and useful multiple-contact relays for use in the control circuits of such organs.

In such pipe organs electro-magnetically operated valves stand in the line ofcommunication between the organ pipes severally and the usual-air chest of the organ.- A supply of air under superatrnospheric pressure is maintained inthe chest, and, as one and another of the normally closed valvesopen, .air flows through the respective pipes and the pipes play. Each key of the organ manual controls a primary electrical circuit, and when a key is pressed by the musician a circuit closes and actuates an electro-magnet, which opens an airqvalve and establishes air flow to that organ pipe which corresponds in the musical scale to the key that has been pressed. The air valve remains open and the pipe plays as long as the key is held down. When the key is released the said electrical circuit opens, the air valve instantly closes, the flow of air is blanked, and the pipe becomes silent.

The usual organ manual is provided with a plurality of stops. Each stop controls a group of electrical contacts adapted to be opened and closed in unison by the manipulation of the stop, and these contacts are included in auxiliary electrical circuits arranged electrically to dominate or modify predetermined members of the said primary circuits. The structure which provides for such grouped operation of electrical contacts in response to the manipulations of the organ stops is known as a coupler stack or an octave coupler, the function or utility of which is well understood in the art.

In order to provide greater versatility and selectivity of desirable electrical control combinations, relays are included in the circuit system of the organ. Such relays are multiple-contact devices, including contacts adapted to alter or modify a plurality of circuits, as high as twenty or more circuits being desired in some cases, contingent upon the availability of an inexpensive yet reliable relay structure. More particularly my invention is found in an improved multiple-contact relay that meets this desideratum.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a relay embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the relay;

Fig. 3 is a view in top plan and to larger scale of the relay, with the contact members of the relay shown in circuit-closing positions; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the contact members in open positions.

Referring to the drawings the relay illustrated as an exemplary embodiment of my invention comprises a base or support 2, to which two elongate insulating bars 3, 3 are secured by means of screws 4. A row of spaced contact fingers 5 are secured in each bar 3, there being eight fingers 5 carried by each bar in this case, preferably formed of resilient electrical-conducting wire of silver or copper, although it will be understood that ten or more fingers 5 may be borne by each bar. Each contact finger 5 forms the electrical contact terminal of a circuit wire 6.

Cooperating with each of the two rows of contact fingers 5 is a contact bar 7. Each bar 7 is mounted on the distal end of a resilient leg 8 that is secured, as by a weld 9, to the base 2. In Fig. 2 the leg 8 closest in the line of sight is broken away adjacent to its top for purposes of illustration.

Each of the contact bars 7 forms the contact terminal of a circuit wire 10 connected to the leg 8 that carries the bar. The legs 8 are stressed normally to hold the bars 7 respectively out of contact with the two lines of contact fingers 5, as shown in Fig. 4, and electro-magnetic means are provided for spreading the legs 8 and moving the bars 7 into positions of electrical union with the two rows of contact fingers 5 severally. When the bars 7 are electrically united with the two rows of contact fingers 5, an electrical circuit 6, 10 is closed through each contact finger. I

The electr c-magnetic means for actuating the legs 8, 8

comprise, an electro-magnet 11 secured to the-base 2 betweensuch legs. Through the head plate 12 of the elec tro-magnet an iron core 13 projects upwardly for the attractionof a movable armature 14, which is pivoted at its lower end, as at 15, to the base 2. The armature 14 includes a head 16 that extends angularly from the leverlike body of the armature 14, Whereit is accessible to the attraction of the core 13, when the magnet is energized through circuit wires 17 and 18. Under the urging of a helical spring 19, biased betweenthe side of the body of electro-magnet 11 and the armature 14, the armature normally occupies the retracted position shown in Fig. 4.

The energizing of the electro-magnet 11 attracts the head 16 of the armature and moves the armature against the restraint of spring 19 in a direction that extends between the two legs 8, 8. The head 16 of the armature carries a cam portion 20, Wedge shaped in this case, which enters spreading engagement with portions 21 of the legs and effects the powerful separating movement of the upper or distal ends of the legs, with the result that the bars 7, 7 move apart and enter electrical union with the two rows of contact fingers 5.

When the electro-magnet is de-energized, and the spring 19 snaps the armature 14 back into its normal position,

it allows the contact bars 7, 7, under the inherent resilience of the legs 8, 8, quickly to return to normal opencircuit positions.

In order that the rapid movement of the armature 14 under the attraction of the energized magnet will not be too violent and will not drive the cam portion too far between the leg portions 21, 21, a cushion stop 22 is provided on the side of the magnet coil, as appears in Figs. 1 and 2.

An effective and improved relay of the sort desired is obtained. It is a relay that will afford newutility in electronic organs, as well as in the pipe organs referred to herein, and it will be understood that various modifications in the exemplary structure illustrated and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A relay for electrically controlled organs comprising a support bearing two rows of spaced conductor fingers electrically insulated from one another, said two rows of fingers extending in opposed spaced relation and the fingers of each row comprising one contact terminal for each circuit of a group of electrical circuits, an electrically conductive contact bar for each row of fingers, each contact bar comprising the other contact terminal for a plurality of the group of circuits for which the associate row of fingers provide the first-mentioned contact terminals, two spaced-apart legs for severally and resiliently for spreading; the legs, to carry said bar's-into positions ofi electricalunion severally with said rowsofjcontact fingers, whereby one contact bar closes a groupofi circuits, simultaneously with the closing of a, group ofcircuits through, the other contact. bar.

2. A relay for electrically controlled organs. comprising, a support bearing" two rows of' spaced fingers insulated from, one another, said, two rows of fingers extending in, opposed spaced, relation, with each finger adapted to form a circuit contact, an.elec.tric ally conductive bar for each row of contact, fingers, each bar forming a, circuit Contact for each finger. of the. row associated, with said bar, tWo-resilientlegs severally supporting the bars out of, contactwith said; rowsv of fingers, and electro-magnetically operatedrneans' having a member mounted, for, lateraLrnovement between saidv legs and, operable in re.- sponse to,- the energization ofIsaid means, to spread said. legs and carry said bars into positions of electrical union severally with. the contact fingers of said rows.

3f. Arelay forelectrically controlled organs comprising afsupportbearing' two. rowsv ofspaced fingers insulated. from oneanother, said two rows of fingers extending in opposed spaced relation, with each finger adapted to form a'circuit Contact, an electrically conductive contact bar for, eachrow of contact fingers, 'two resilient legs. severally supporting said contact bars,. and electro-magnetic'rneans including an, armature mounted to swing laterally betweensaid legs for. spreading the legsto carry. saidbars into positions of electrical union severally withv said. rows of, contact fingers.

4. A relay for electrically controlled organs comprisiiig a support bearing two rows of spaced fingers insulated from one another, said two rows of fingers extending in opposed spaced relation, with each finger adapted to form a circuit contact, an electrically conductive bar for each row of contact fingers, each bar forming a circuit contact for each finger of the row associated with said bar,

. two resilient legs' severally supporting the bars out of contact with said rows of fingers, an electro-magnet, an.

. is energized) into spreading engagement with said legs for shiftingsaidcontact bars severally into position of electrical union with said rows of contact fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,152,843, Reed: Sept. 7, 1915. 1,179,;389" Austin; Apr. 18, 1916 1,246,687 Wells Nov. 13, 1917 1,476,013: Holtz; Dec; 4, 1923 1,521,591 Beck -Jan. 6, 1925 1,717,057 'Meuer:.. June 11, 1929 1,754,004,- Wick Apr; 8, 1930: 1 ,883,766 Cox et:al; Oct; 18, 1932 1,952,679 Leveen Mar. 27, 1934 2,270,513: Dettar; Jan. 20, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 217,006" G'ermany- June 3, 1909' 

